Vespa launches new 125cc scooter

Foreign scooter makers race to capture Vietnam's market through fierce brand marketing and production expansions. The scooter market in Vietnam is heating up as large manufacturers like Honda, Piaggio, Yamaha and Kymco are racing to launch new models and capture consumers' hearts, along with crucial shares in a burgeoning market. Yamaha's brand of Nouvo scooters received an unexpected advertisement boost after two Hollywood celebrities Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were photographed riding around Ho Chi Minh City on a black Nouvo during their trip to Vietnam last year. The image of the cool actor driving an automatic scooter changed consumers' perceptions that previously associated the model with female drivers. Japanese renowned manufacturer Honda forayed into the market soon after, debuting a sporty-looking Air Blade model in April last year that domestic motorbike traders said was a breakthrough in design for automatic scooters. The Honda Air Blade enchanted consumers and the … [Read more...] about Hot wheels

Retail leader pushes transition Building a modern and efficient distribution-retail industry is the only way to become a developed economy, according to Dinh Thi My Loan, vice president and general secretary of the Viet Nam Association of Retailers. "Developing distribution channels should focus on infrastructure," she said. However, challenges remain and include the transition from traditional definitions, structures, systems and business practices to an effective commercial industry with high productivity, modern technology and oriented-consumers. According to the association, the small and ineffective market, coupled with poor purchasing power, offers additional problems. The modern market also makes up only 20 per cent of the national platform with figures ranging from 40-42 per cent in HCM City and 13 per cent in the capital. Retail companies have also been weakened in terms of professional, long-term strategy, financial and logistic capacity and level of competitiveness. … [Read more...] about BUSINESS IN BRIEF 6/3